SeaDock Argos

File Conversion

Version 1.00

October 16th 2014

Before moving forward with this tutorial, review and follow the tutorial on how to download appropriate .csv files (comma delimited) using the Argos website. If you use SeaWatch, this tutorial is not needed.

Please use SeaWatch and only use the Argos download / SeaDock conversion as a back-up if SeaWatch is not working. If you need a version of SeaWatch to install on your computer contact Customer Service at CustomerService@desertstar.com.

Step 1:

Open SeaDock without a tag connected. The software should look like this:

Step 2:

Click FILE - LOAD ARGOS LOGS. The following pop-up screen will open:

Step 3:

Click the SELECT SOURCE button and select the file you want to work with that was downloaded from the Argos website. The software defaults the Destination Folder as the same as the Source Folder. If you want to save the file somewhere else you would click the SELECT DESTINATION button.

Under SETTINGS, click the DECIMAL button for all SeaTag-only users. If you have an older account, prior to using SeaTag devices you should check with CLS/Argos to determine if you use Decimal or Hexadecimal.

Finally, click the small box under FILTERING titled Include packets with bad checksum[1]. Your screen should look similar to below. Now, click the PROCESS LOG button.

[1] Bad checksum refers to a FALSE checksum in the columns located in the .csv file. A FALSE checksum is a transmission to the satellite that became corrupted. One of the “sensors” in this transmission is false (or incorrect); therefore, it is not recommended to use the data from this transmission; however, we recommending including FALSE checksums so that you can look at all the data before potentially removing the FALSE checksums from the file.

Message in the bottom left corner changed to “processed log…”. You can now close SeaDock or process additional files as needed.

Step 4:

Your file is now ready to be ran through SeaTrack and/or viewed, edited, or graphed in Excel or another graphing software. You can close SeaDock and/or process other files downloaded from Argos.

Make sure when you download the files from Argos that each file is relative to only a single tag. DO NOT download and process files with data from multiple tags.

Example file:

Next page Your file should look something like this:

The following steps are just a recommendation:

Save a copy of this file and only edit the copy.

Sort alphabetically.

Move the different packets to different sheets to create a cleaner file organization